Process for converting petroleums



Dec. 31, 1929. G. EGLOFF 1,741,509

PROCESS FOR CONVERTING PETROLEUMS Original Filed Oct. 21. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I GysTaV Dec. 31, 1929. e. EGLOFF PROCESS FOR CONVERTING PETROLEUMS Original Filed Oct. 21. 1921 2 sh t -she t M2213 GusT'av I; I0

Tllnllllllll ll ll |l| llll lllll II I III lllllllll Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUSTAV EGLOFF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASS IGN'OR 'IO UNIVERSAL OIL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACOfi-FOR-ATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA PROCESS FOR CONVERTING PETROLEUMS Application filed October 21, 1921, Serial No. 509,278. Renewed October 1, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in process for converting petroleums and more particularly to a process for converting relatively high boiling point hydrocarbons mto oils having the characteristics of gasoline or the like.

Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide a process in which the oil, after being heated to a cracking tGIHPQFHtUIQflS permitted to vaporize in a series of vaporizing chambers, the generated vapors released therefrom being refluxed and that portion separated out as reflux condensate returned to different stages of vaporization for reconversion; to provide a process in which the separate reflux condensates separated in the successive dephlemating or refluxing stages are returned to those stages of the process in which the temperature conditions are such that reconversion will relieve from these refluxed oils additional low boiling point fractions; to provide a process which is prefer ably operated continuously and one in which a large amount of oil may be processed over a considerable length of time without shutting down for the purpose of cleaning.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the apparatus with parts in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the oil to be treated is introduced from any convenient source through the inlet pipe 1, controlled by a valve 2 and is charged by means of the pump 3 to the heating tubes 4 through the line 5 which is controlled by a valve 6. The heating tubes are mounted in a furnace 7, which is preferably heated by means of gas burners 8. The oil in its circulation through the heating tubes is raised to a conversion temperature after which it is passed through the transfer line 9, which terminates in the Y pipe; one connection of this Y-pipe controlled by a valve 11, communicating with the vertical chamber 12 while the other connection 13 controlled by a valve 14 leads to the vertical chamber 15 These two chambers are respectively connected by pipes 18 and 19 with similar chambers 16 and 17 the latter being connected by means of the pipe 20.

The chambers 12 and 15 are connected as are the chambers 16 and 17 by means of a pipe The oil on being introduced into the vertical chambers is maintained at a level in the chambers 12 and 15 where conversion proceeds. When the oil rises to the level of the connecting pipes 18 and 19, it will overflow into the adjoining chambers 16 and 17, the vapors in the meantime which accumulate in the initial chambers 12 and 15 pass through the connections 18 and 19 and out of the top of the chambers 16 and 17 and into the vapor lines 22 and 23.

The vapors which are generated in either of the four chambers will pass off through these two vapor lines to the primary dephlegmator 24 where they are refluxed, the reflux condensate returning through the lines 25 and 26, controlled by valves 27 and 28 respectively, to each of the tanks 16 and 17. The uncondensed vapors pass over from the top of the initial dephlegmating column through the line 29 to the secondary dephlegmator 30. The reflux condensate separated in this zone of dephlegmation is returned through the lines 31 and 32 controlled by valves 33 and 34. The line 31 communicates with the chamber 15 while the line 32 directs the reflux back to the chamber 12. After this second refluxing action, the uncondensed vapors pass over through the top of the dephlegmator to the third refluxing stage or dephlegmating column 35 through the line 36. From this final stage of dephlegmation, the liquid reflux -in the form of con-',

dcnsate is returned through the pipe 37 controlled by a valve 38 to the charging line 5, where it is introduced to the raw oil as it is charged to the heating zone.

The vapors which still remain uncondensed frOmLthe final dephlegmating stage, pass over through the line 39 to a water condenser 40 from which the distillate flows into the-receiving tank 41. This tank is equipped with a pressure relief valve 42, and liquid drawoff valve 43, pressure gauge 44, and liquid level gauge 45. I It is by means of the valve 42 that the regulation of pres- V positioned a damper 47 and thence pass into the insulated enclosure to the vapor chambers. By controlling the dampers 47 and 48, the heating of the vapor chambers may be controlled so as to establish desirable conditions of temperature about the chambers to promote conversion of the oil therein. Thereflux from the initial dephlegmating stage is returned to the chambers 16 and 17 and the condensate from the secondary dephlegmating stage to the chambers 12 and 15, while the reflux from the'third stage is returned to the heating zone for retreatment, that is, the more refractory oils or those which are separated out in the secondary stages are returned to those portions of the system where they will be subjected to higher conditions of temperature in order to reconvert them.

The vertical tanks are of such size that they may be operated over a considerable length of time without accumulating carbon to an amount which will be objectionable to the conversion of the oil. When the tanks have been filled to anamount that the carbon tends to retard the cracking'of the oil, the system may be shut down and the chambers cleaned through manhole plates shown. at 49, 50 and 51, and 52.

The apparatus, besides being very simple, is sufficient in that a much larger yield of distillate may be produced by the conversion of the oil in this manner and the returning of the condensate as shown.

I claim as my invention:

to a conversion temperature, in transferring the highly heated oil from said heating zone to an enlarged reaction zone, in preventing the return of'any unvaporized oil from said reaction zone to said heating zone, in dephlegmating the evolved vapors, in condensing the dephlegmated vapors, in collecting the resulting distillate, in separating the reflux condensate resulting from the dephlegmation of the vapors into heavier and lighter fractions, in returning the heavier fractions to said reaction zone and the lighter fractions to said heating zone for re-treatment, and in' maintainin' a superatmospheric pressure on the oil un ergoing conversion.

3. A process for cracking hydrocarbon oil, consisting in subjecting the oil to a cracking temperature and in maintaining the oil under a cracking temperature in cracking zones tures,'in subjecting vapors evolved from the oil to reflux condensation, to separate the intained at higher cracking temperatures.

GUSTAV EGLOFF,

1. A process of cracking hydrocarbon oil,

consisting in passing the oil through a heat-- ing zone wherein it is subjected to conversion temperature, in transferring the heated oilfrom said heating-zone into an enlarged.

reaction zone wherein conversion occurs and from which no unvaporized oil is returned to said heating zone, in dephlegmating the evolved vapors, in condensing the dephlegmated vapors, in collecting the resulting distillate, in separating reflux condensate result ing'from the dephlegmation of the vapors into separate fractions, representing a heavy or less refractory fraction and alight or more refractory fraction, in returning-themore refractory fraction directly to the heating zone for re treatment, iii-returning the less refractory fraction of the reflux condensateto the reacting zone, and in maintaining a super! atmospheric pressure on the oilundergoing 4 treatment.

I 2. A process for cracking hydrocarbon oil, I

consisting in continuously passing the oil 

